{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-demands-answers-over-reported-delays-critical-new-world", "Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Answers Over Reported Delays to Critical New World Screwworm Facility", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On September 22, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led nine of his House colleagues in demanding answers from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins following reports that USDA delayed construction of a critical New World Screwworm (NWS) containment facility in order to pursue a proposal from a politically connected contractor.\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 demand comes as the threat of NWS continues in New Mexico. Last week, officials confirmed the state\u2019s second case of New World screwworm. New Mexico\u2019s first case was detected in June.\n\n\u201cNWS is not an abstract threat. Every day lost preparing our defenses puts American cattle producers, rural communities, and our food supply at greater risk,\u201d wrote Vasquez. \u201cRanchers should not have to pay the price for a federal contracting process influenced by political connections instead of experience, science, and the ability to get the job done.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government has a responsibility to move quickly when the livelihoods of American ranchers and the security of our food supply are at stake,\u201d continued Vasquez. \u201cIt also has a responsibility to ensure contracts are awarded based on qualifications, value to taxpayers, and the ability to deliver, not political connections.\u201d\n\nAccording to reports, USDA spent approximately six months considering a proposal from a firm with no significant biocontainment experience that has political ties to the Trump Administration. After it was determined that the politically-connected firm could not complete the project within its underbid budget and timeline, USDA then spent several additional months reviewing proposals before moving forward with another contractor for a facility now estimated to cost approximately $750 million.\n\nVasquez and his colleagues are asking USDA to:\n\nExplain when officials became aware of the contractor\u2019s political connections and lack of biocontainment experience;\n\nShare the research that was conducted on the proposal;\n\nExplain why the Department continued considering the contractor for approximately six months;\n\nHow much the process delayed construction on the key facility to stop the spread of NWS and what effect that delay has had on USDA\u2019s ability to protect livestock producers.\n\nVasquez has advocated for ranchers in their fight against NWS time and time again:\n\nIn June, Rep. Vasquez took ranchers' straight to Washington and pressed Secretary Rollins on New World Screwworm (NWS) containment, payment and service delays caused by USDA staffing shortages.\n\nIn April, he sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding answers on the Administration\u2019s preparedness strategy for a New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak as the warmer months approach.\n\nOn March 3, 2026, Rep. Vasquez secured unanimous, bipartisan support in the House Agriculture Committee for his Farm Bill amendment condemning the Administration\u2019s push to prioritize Argentinian beef imports at the expense of our American cattle ranchers.\n\nLast year, he sounded the alarm on NWS by calling on the USDA to take immediate steps to protect ranchers while balancing the interests of New Mexico\u2019s small businesses.\n\nHe was also integral in securing the necessary funding to build a sterile fly facility through the STOP Screwworms Act, legislation that required the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a New World Screwworm fly rearing facility to combat the spread of Screwworms.\n\nIn 2024, Vasquez adamantly opposed the Biden administration\u2019s push to import beef from Paraguay. No matter the political party, Rep. Vasquez is fully committed to fighting for American ranchers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-demands-answers-over-reported-delays-critical-new-world"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9220638312399387, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}